Spiny puddle frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spiny puddle frog |
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The spiny puddle frog (scientific name: Phrynobatrachus chukuchuku) is a small frog. It belongs to a group of frogs called Phrynobatrachidae. This special frog only lives in Cameroon, a country in Africa. Sadly, it is considered Critically Endangered, which means it's very close to disappearing forever.
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What's in a Name?
Scientists gave the spiny puddle frog its official name, Phrynobatrachus chukuchuku, in 2009. A scientist named Breda M. Zimkus described it. The "chukuchuku" part of its name comes from a local language in Cameroon. It means "spiny" or "thorny," which is a good clue about how this frog looks!
How to Spot a Spiny Puddle Frog
Spiny puddle frogs have some unique features that help tell them apart.
- Color: Male frogs have a very dark, almost black, belly. Female frogs have a much lighter throat area.
- Size: Female spiny puddle frogs are usually bigger than males. Females are about 17 to 19 millimeters (mm) long. Males are a bit smaller, around 15 to 16 mm long. That's less than an inch for both!
- Spines: The "spiny" part of their name comes from tiny little spines that male frogs have on their undersides.
Tadpoles
When they are young, spiny puddle frogs are tadpoles. These tadpoles are usually dark in color. They have a round, oval-shaped body. They are quite small, measuring about 6 to 7 mm long.
Where Do They Live?
The spiny puddle frog is only found in one specific place. It lives in the grasslands near the top of Mount Oku in Cameroon. This is a high mountain area. Scientists often find these frogs near springs and wet areas. The tadpoles live in slow-moving water in these mountain grasslands.
History and Why They Need Help
Spiny puddle frogs were first discovered in 2006. Scientists officially described them in 2009. These frogs are now in great danger. They face several threats that make it hard for them to survive:
- Climate change: Changes in weather patterns can harm their habitat.
- Livestock grazing: Animals like cows eating grass can damage their homes.
- Fire: Wildfires can destroy their living areas.
- Disease: Frogs can get sick from certain diseases.
There isn't much help for these frogs right now. Experts believe that more research is needed on Mount Oku. This research would help them figure out how to protect all the animals there, including the spiny puddle frog. Because of these dangers, the spiny puddle frog was added to the IUCN Red List in 2011. This list shows animals that are Critically Endangered.
